Poll Position: How should Obama respond to embassy attacks?
The big story this week was the series of attacks on U.S. embassies across the Middle East and North Africa: from Libya, where our ambassador was killed, to Egypt, Yemen and, today, Tunisia and Sudan. In Libya, the government is cooperating with the investigation into the murders of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. The responses from the other countries have been mixed, but they have been rather tepid on the whole.
How should Obama respond to the attacks on our embassies?
- Cut foreign aid (255 Votes)
- Pursue the killers in Libya; otherwise, lie low (173 Votes)
- Stop issuing travel visas for people from those countries (130 Votes)
- Bomb 'em (108 Votes)
- Economic sanctions (106 Votes)
- Too soon to say (102 Votes)
- Cut diplomatic ties (91 Votes)
- Increase foreign aid (5 Votes)
Total Voters: 517
Loading ...President Obama made a mistake Wednesday evening when he said of the Egyptian government, which has been in place less than three months, “I don’t think that we would consider them an ally, but we don’t consider them an enemy.” It was a mistake because the White House on Thursday had to walk back the statement; later Thursday, the State Department had to walk back the walk back, clarifying that Egypt retains the official designation of Major Non-NATO Ally it has held since 1989.
But this post isn’t about criticizing Obama for shooting first and aiming later. (OK, maybe it’s a little bit about that.) It’s really about the question most of us have been pondering since the attacks in Libya and Egypt on Tuesday, the 11th anniversary of 9/11: What is the proper response?
Some of you took my first post on the subject to imply a military action is needed. As I tried to make clear in the comments, that’s not the case. Things would have to spiral much further out of control before we were talking about military action.
Unless, of course, you include drone flights and a possible targeted strike on the terrorists responsible for the ambassador’s death, which the Obama administration appears to be considering at the very least.
Otherwise, there are a range of options here. We could pull our diplomats from their capitals. We could expel their diplomats from Washington. We cut cut or eliminate foreign aid to these countries. We could, I suppose, increase our foreign aid to them and use it to promote and educate them about our laws and values (such as freedom of expression). We could officially remove them from our list of allies. We could stop issuing travel visas from their country to ours. We could impose some form of economic sanctions. Or we could essentially do nothing more than pursue the people who killed Stevens and the other Americans.
What should Obama’s response entail? That’s this week’s Poll Position question. Answer in the nearby poll — NOTE: unlike most of my polls, you can select more than one answer in this one — and the comments thread below.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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949 comments Add your comment
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
September 15th, 2012
4:40 pm
Obama’s failure to protect the embassies on 9/11 gets people killed, and his first instinct is to attack…Mitt Romney?
Vote American.
Just Proud To Be Here
September 15th, 2012
4:42 pm
Gotta go, it’s little challenge to point out the Truth to Liberals, just hard to get them to accept it. Have A Nice Evening All
Towncrier
September 15th, 2012
4:43 pm
“History behind the film maker: Nakoula had been registered to vote as a Democrat from 2002-2008, according to the L.A. County Registrar Recorder’s office. In April of 2008, he changed his political affiliation to American Independent.”
He has an odd and less-than-admirable background to be sure. I personally think Islam is a false religion, but attacking it the way he has does nothing to bring people to their senses. It just makes them angry. Rioting in mobs, however, is not the fault of this man. Serrano upset my sensibilities when he exhibited his “P*ss Christ”, but I didn’t seek to retaliate. And, to be fair, neither should have French Catholics in 2011.
Towncrier
September 15th, 2012
4:44 pm
“Town, don’t ya miss Fred and JamVet…at least they are entertaining when they are so off base …”
Are they banned?
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
September 15th, 2012
4:47 pm
Not presently.
getalife
September 15th, 2012
4:52 pm
So Obama was technically correct that Egypt is not an ally in the sense that Britain or even Turkey is. But unlike what some media outlets wrote, this statement was no gaffe. Rather, Obama was playing hardball with Morsi, trying to impress upon him that the status of ‘major non-NATO ally’ is not automatic now that the Muslim Brotherhood is in control. It will have to be re-earned, at least from Obama’s point of view. And the lack of response on the embassy attack is not consistent with ally status. Non-NATO ally status is bestowed by a stroke of the presidential pen, so Obama could take it away.
Our President smacked the leader of Egypt and he caved and fought the protestors.
This is what a competent President looks like.
He is crushing tour boy robme and ruin.
Don't Tread
September 15th, 2012
4:52 pm
When they can be identified and located, send them straight to hell. No other response is acceptable.
getalife
September 15th, 2012
4:54 pm
Oops. that was a quote from a man with a brain Juan Cole.
JamVet
September 15th, 2012
5:07 pm
BB, a least Obama didn’t attack our Americans in those embassies like the disgusting Romney and you Republican sycophants did…
Liberal Pariah
September 15th, 2012
5:17 pm
4:52pm…that’s what spin looks like
getalife
September 15th, 2012
5:21 pm
Common sense.
Del
September 15th, 2012
5:21 pm
Obama thought his apologist policy would win us respect among the Islamic world. It hasn’t and now we face humiliation among the entire world. American leadership has declined on his watch and now it’s beyond time for a change of leadership. We cannot afford another term for this incompetent president,
Liberal Pariah
September 15th, 2012
5:24 pm
Can’t be common sense. Liberals don’t have any. Obama was off teleprompter and revealed just how clueless he is. It has been reported that Romney will now be getting briefings. No word on when Obama will do the same. AMATEUR getting Americans killed, thy name is Obama.
Del
September 15th, 2012
5:24 pm
The socialist experiment hasn’t worked and only the far-left fails to acknowledge this unfortunate fact.
getalife
September 15th, 2012
5:27 pm
I was shocked, shocked I say to read the cons happily hand the Muslim Brotherhood automatic ally status to their brand new government.
Why?
To get our President of course.
getalife
September 15th, 2012
5:28 pm
Del,
It was working until your criminal made that stupid movie.
Del
September 15th, 2012
5:32 pm
It’s time for the UnAmericans to become Americans if it’s within them and denounce these failures. Listen to free thinking people like a liberals in the voice of Kirstin Powers and Bob Woodward and speak out against our radical hard-left president whose destroying this great country.
Cobbian
September 15th, 2012
5:33 pm
It is an unfolding situation. Over-reaction is dangerous. We don’t need to send troops into everywhere. Obama has sent troops into Libya, to look for those who killed our people, and into Yemen, to protect American lives. It is too soon to cut aid, cut diplomatic ties, impose sanctions. If these young and untried new governments calm the situation it will strengthen them.
What Obama did not do was waste American lives by the thousands in “helping” those seeking freedom in Libya, Egypt, Yemen, and SyriaI to overthrow dictatorships. He won’t win friends by sending in massive numbers of troops now. All that will do is inflame further passions and cost more lives. Slow, steady is what we need and what we have. We are not in control – these countries are not our countries – we respond, but we do not control.
Del
September 15th, 2012
5:36 pm
“To get our President of course”
getalife, this president has been off course from the time he set foot in office and even before he set foot in office. He’s been the worst mistake the American electorate has ever made.
getalife
September 15th, 2012
5:37 pm
Cobbian ,
Well said.
getalife
September 15th, 2012
5:41 pm
Del,
You cons never gave this President a chance. From day one the gop strategy was to get this President and country last. Even after a collapse with our country in trouble. Even after an attack with your party uniting. Unhinged is your unpatriotic behavior.
That is the cold hard truth.
Fred ™
September 15th, 2012
5:43 pm
Michael H. Smith
September 15th, 2012
5:46 am
Why do Americans hate America so much?
You should ask Bill Clinton why he signed NAFTA Fred before you make such inane claims about Romney shipping jobs offshore. Then again, go ahead and ignore the FACT, yeah FACT Fred… that your buddy “obumer” has pursued Free Trade Agreements no differently than his predecessors.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Why does EVERY Republican come up with this 3rd grade “logic?”
“Well Johnny Joe set the cat on fire last week so why are you mad at me because I burned the dog?”
Just damn. Grow up. First off asshat, your *clever* little “Obumer” demeans us ALL as Americans. I’ll bet you were one of those who boycott’s the Dixie Chicks for “disrespecting the President.” What a hypocrite.
Next, please tell me the connection between NAFTA and shipping all our jobs to China. Are you really that stupid, What does the ASIAN COUNTRY have to do with the NORTH AMERICAN Free Trade agreement?
And finally chief, I know it’s difficult for your tiny little mind to comprehend, but everyone who isn’t a talk radio quoting, far right wing fanatical nutcase isn’t a Democrat or a “liberal.” But then you far right wing radical nutcases just love you some namecalling and labels don’t you? Oh wait, unless you recieve the same treatment you give others. Then you cry like a 5 year old girl stung by a bee and try to get folks banned, (Right Del?).
Del
September 15th, 2012
5:45 pm
” we respond, but we do not control.”
We need to respond and control with every asset we have. Killing innocent Americans cannot be tolerated and we have to back up our condemnations with action not just with words like we’ve been hearing from this feckless administration.
Fred ™
September 15th, 2012
5:46 pm
Towncrier
September 15th, 2012
4:43 pm
I personally think Islam is a false religion
++++++++++++++++++++++
So what is your ( which would make it the *official* of course) definition of a “false religion?”
You are a Southern Baptist aren’t you? Or some sort of Baptist with a preacher from Bob Jones U right? I’m merely seeking info so please tell the truth…….. hard as it may be lol.
getalife
September 15th, 2012
5:48 pm
You have seen romney would be another disaster like w saying he could dictate events in the ME.
So, I welcome all Republicans that think country first to vote for President Obama for your country.
JamVet
September 15th, 2012
5:48 pm
Yes, condemning our Americans serving overseas like Mitt did is unacceptable.
Time for the GOP to stand with America, instead of against her…
Del
September 15th, 2012
5:53 pm
Fred, you’re the sycophant Bookman asshat pretender who comes over here with the same stupidity. Crawl back over to your masters protection.
Fred ™
September 15th, 2012
5:53 pm
getalife
September 15th, 2012
5:28 pm
Del,
It was working until your criminal made that stupid movie.
+++++++++++++++++++
That’s not true and he’s not Del’s “criminal. Don’t stoop again to the Republican level of false rhetoric Get. You said you had an epiphany after the Clinton speech. Hold true to your new revelation. Stick with FACT, not hyperbole and conjecture.
Fred ™
September 15th, 2012
5:56 pm
Del
September 15th, 2012
5:53 pm
Fred, you’re the sycophant Bookman asshat pretender who comes over here with the same stupidity. Crawl back over to your masters protection.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ah the tenderlovingkindness of a Southern Baptist deacon. Thanks you sir, I accept your blessing from Jesus. He is so proud of you. You, especially with that post exemplify Christ and set the example of how those who follow him act. You will receive 72 virgins for that when you die………
Oblama
September 15th, 2012
5:56 pm
Drop the nuke on Iran.
Del
September 15th, 2012
6:02 pm
The vermin have arrived…time for fumigation. I have seafood on the grill, so fellow conservatives get some. Later.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
September 15th, 2012
6:03 pm
a least Obama didn’t attack our Americans in those embassies
———————
Of course not. Obozo agreed with the apology to the Islamofascists.
Someone in the campaign got to him though, and for some reason the administrations anti-American tweet was deleted.
Fred ™
September 15th, 2012
6:10 pm
David R. Boag, DDS
September 15th, 2012
9:57 am
Fred @ 12:47 am
“Concerning your post, let me use an analogy. If you put braces on my crooked ass teeth for 2 weeks will they then be straight and stay straight for the rest of my life?”
How is that analogy relevant to my post? If anything, I see it in AGREEMENT with my post. We are saying that if you listened to the MSM talk about Mr. Obama prior to his coronation, it sounded like it would be SUCH a stark contrast to the GWB policies that it would end, or at minimum significantly diminish, the vitriol against the US that was attributed to GWB’s foreign policy. It’s been 3+ years now, and just like teeth in braces, even in a short period of time you should begin to see movement of the teeth in the direction that heads toward the objective. That kind of movement in international affairs is ABSENT! In fact, it could be argued–although I will not do it here–that the movement is in the WRONG direction. In either case, if you put braces on and the teeth start moving in the opposite direction or not at all after a bit of time, better reassess what kind of brackets and wires you aree using and look at how you’ve put them on, because leaving things as they are won’t cause teeth to move in the opposite direction that they initially move.
Is that what you were trying to say? If so, you are right.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dr. Boag: First off. You make yourself sound like an ignorant sycophant incapable of independent thought when use use talk radio bumper sticker phrases like ” Mr. Obama prior to his coronation.”
i find it hard to believe that a man such as yourself who was blessed not only with the benefit of higher education but also an advanced degree knows so little about our political system. But since that seems to be the case sir let me educate you.
Here in the United States we do NOT have a King, or Queen, or Dictator, and as such we have no coronations. We threw off the yoke of the British tyranny and monarchy back in 1776. I am stunned and amazed that you are ignorant of that fact. The reasoned mind can only concluded by your writings you DON’T know that, so it makes it hard to take anything you say about politics seriously. You are ignorant of the fact that we don’t have, and never HAVE had in the United States, a monarchy.
I’ll make you a deal. Let’s use the barter system. If you will whiten my teeth, then I will educate you on our system of Government. But let me continue.
We are saying that if you listened to the MSM talk
Sorry. I don’t listen to or watch MSM. As a matter of fact, I have no idea what the hell MSM is. If you made a typo and meant MSNBC I can still say that I never watch or listen to it (too much of a far leftwing station catering to the nutcase fanatical elements of the Democratic party for me, just as FOX does for the nutcase far right wing fanatics), but I have heard of it.
You need to use facts to discuss matters with me, not hyperbole.
In short, when you can figure out our form of Government and not speak in hyperbole I would be happy to discuss anything you wish.
Thank you.
MarkV
September 15th, 2012
6:10 pm
The Republicans do not know how to handle that their flag bearer has no foreign policy ideas. All they can do is to behave more belligerently and insultingly, to denigrate Obama’s successes and ignore or defend Romney’s blunders.
Oblama
September 15th, 2012
6:10 pm
Obama’s “preacher” the wrongful Rev Rat would say “G D America”. A fine example of support for the good old USA. So Obama learned from the foot of the master.
Fred ™
September 15th, 2012
6:11 pm
Del
September 15th, 2012
6:02 pm
The vermin have arrived…time for fumigation. I have seafood on the grill, so fellow conservatives get some. Later.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
The false prophet always flees before the light.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
September 15th, 2012
6:16 pm
Obozo’s friend Bill Ayers wipes his feet on the American flag.
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/August-2001/No-Regrets/
Fred ™
September 15th, 2012
6:24 pm
The jackals are always nipping at the heels of the lion. They do it in packs and from behind. Yet when faced one on one with a lion, the jackal will always run.
Oblama
September 15th, 2012
6:28 pm
Fed debt at $10,000,000,000 when Obama came in to office – less than 4 years later it is $16,000,000,000. Spend your way out of debt is Obama’s plan to “save” the economy. How is that working for us?
Oblama
September 15th, 2012
6:36 pm
Obama’s gub’ment jobs growth program: take one person off of the unemployment rolls and move them to disability. Voila! Another gub’ment created job from the brilliant mind of Obama.
Hillbilly D
September 15th, 2012
7:36 pm
We had a pretty good discussion going for a while last night. Guess you had to know it couldn’t last.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
September 15th, 2012
8:06 pm
“All they can do is to behave more belligerently and insultingly, to denigrate Obama’s successes and ignore or defend Romney’s blunders.”
I’m still waiting to see an Obama success . . .
Del
September 15th, 2012
8:12 pm
“The jackals are always nipping at the heels of the lion. They do it in packs and from behind. Yet when faced one on one with a lion, the jackal will always run.”
So says the chihuahua from a safe distance.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
September 15th, 2012
8:13 pm
And of course, when “the media” considers something a Romney blunder, I simply dismiss it as another attempt by them to denigrate him in order to make their chosen failure look marginally better.
Del
September 15th, 2012
8:18 pm
” I would be happy to discuss anything you wish.”
David R. DDS,
Don’t waste your time he lacks the intelligence to discuss anything.
James
September 15th, 2012
8:18 pm
Tiberius, He has successfully brought our country to it’s lowest level I have ever seen. Lower than Jimmy !!!!!!!!!! If Obama was a white man he would have a 15% approval rating.
Del
September 15th, 2012
8:30 pm
James, Obama is a mulatto, his blackness resides in his black theology. Patriotic Blacks see through him and reject his black theology.
getalife
September 15th, 2012
8:31 pm
Fred,
It was the truth.
All our embassies were not under attack until the movie posted.
getalife
September 15th, 2012
8:33 pm
Del,
They let you get away with your racism over here?
Del
September 15th, 2012
8:33 pm
getalife, get smart…that movie was posted in July. Geez